Emerging DJ from California Shocks the World with his Unique Latin Sounds

Born and raised in San Francisco, 24-year-old Fernando Artiga (888Thieves) is making heads turn in the EDM scene. Now based out of the East Bay, Fernando spends most of his free time DJing at parties and clubs or producing more music to send them out to several record labels. When he is not making or playing music, he is either snowboarding, surfing, going to the gym, or skateboarding. It “just puts you in a present state” when participating in these activities. He discovered his love for music when his dad bought him his first turntable from Fry's Electronics. It was an Edison Professional DJ Mix Pad 2000 and since then he has played and practiced as a hobby. In eighth grade, Fernando would make trap beats and sell them to his friends who loved to rap. Soon, he started to develop a stronger passion for music and upgraded his equipment as his skills progressed. I had the opportunity to hop on a quick interview with him and this is what he told me about his musical journey:

What are your current main challenges as a DJ and what about DJing makes it interesting for you?

"Well currently I am having trouble finding a venue that can take me to the next level…meaning I want to be booked at places where big name DJs play at. Just simply being an opener for these famous artists can really bring more awareness to my music and my brand. It also allows me to network with people who can possibly help me in taking my music career to the next level."

What do you usually do when preparing for a set?

"I’m constantly downloading music on different USBs… 30 minutes before my set, I usually analyze the crowd to see what the energy level is looking like and how the crowd reacts to the music currently being played."

Who are your main influences for music?

"Um… it would have to be Rl Grime, Tchami, John Summit, ISOxo, and Knock2"

What software do you use to make music?

"I use Ableton and Logic for producing and Rekordbox for DJing."

What are your thoughts on making/playing music that the crowd/fans like vs what making music that you like?

"Well, I tend to do a mixture of both. At the current stage of my music career, I have to play for the most part what the crowd likes. However, I do produce my own music and every now and then I play my own music during my sets. There was one time when I was playing at a bar in San Francisco and the bouncer from the bar next door came rushing to me after his shift was over to tell me how fire it was. Encounters like these motivates me to keep working and improving my craft."

In your opinion and from your experiences, what do you need as a DJ to be successful?

"You need to have a unique ear, meaning you should know what style you want to play and if you haven’t found your “style” yet, it is important to discover yourself and who you are as an artist. Audience awareness like we talked about earlier is very important. Lastly, I feel like producing can be a big help to learning how to DJ. It is easier for a producer to become a DJ than it is for a DJ to become a producer."

If given the opportunity, who would you want to collaborate with?

"I would like to work with Kyle Walker, Juelz, and Denzel Curry."

Where do you see yourself in 5 years with this music career?

I see myself DJing in New York, Chicago, or on an island in Mexico with a famous artist or at least being a supporting artist to a big lineup.

Based on your past experiences, do you have any advice for people starting off as a DJ?

"My advice would be to practice, practice, practice. You should be constantly working on your craft and trying out new things in music. It is also important to put yourself out there and network with as many people in the industry as you can because it is actually not hard to get started if you know the right people."

888Thieves’s most streamed and popular song right now is called No Mercy which you can listen on all platforms. One of my favorite tracks from his Soundcloud is called 888Thieves x Bad Bunny (VIP) so go and check that one out as well. He is set to perform at his first bay area festival called Breakaway on October 15, Saturday as well as two clubs Outre SF and Temple SF so keep an eye out for those dates. He has merch coming soon so get your pre orders in by Halloween. Fernando is one of the most hard-working people I have ever met. Check out his music and go follow him now before he becomes a musical sensation in the next couple of years.

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